India’s key player Rani Rampal stayed off the field as she is yet to recover from the knee injury she suffered during a practice match with the Russian team on Wednesday.

The team management is hopeful she will recover before the start of the Hockey World League Round 2, beginning
on February 18.

Meanwhile, Malaysia, Ireland and Fiji are expected to arrive early on Thursday. The organisers, Hockey India, have announced that tickets will be available at the National Stadium apart from 20 outlets of Mobile Stores across the Capital.

Saqib takes big leadGurgaon: Syed Saqib Ahmed fired seven birdies to emerge as the runaway leader at the end of the third round of the Haryana Open Golf Championship.

The Bangalore lad submitted a card of six-under par 66 for a three-round total of eight-under 208. He now leads by eight shots over Karan Taunk and Udayan Mane.

Kirrtane oustedKolkata: None of the top five in the men’s draw made it to the semi-finals of the National grasscourt tennis tournament in progress at the South Club.

On Thursday, second seed Nitten Kirrtane was shown the door by sixth seed-seeded Ramkumar Ramanathan of Tamil Nadu and will take on Bengal’s unseeded Rupesh Roy in the semi-finals.